Apparatus for removing nondesirable substances from cocoa berries



Jan. 15, 1952 o. E. WIDEN 2,582,664 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING NONDESIRABLE SUBSTANCES FROM COCOA BERRIES Original Filed Feb. 20, 1941 Patented Jan; 15, 1952 APrAaATUsFoa REMOVING, NONDE- SIRABLE SUBSTANCES FROM COCOA BERRIES I,

V 0101 Edwin Widn, Ljungsbro, Sweden Original applicationFebr-uary 20, 1941, Serial No. 379,898. Divided and-this application February 7 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,764. In Sweden March 1 Claim. (Cl. 99236) It is previously known to remove the non-desirable, taste-impairing organic substances contained in the cocoa berry by chonching. This chonching takes place after the cocoa has been admixed with sugar and dry-milk, if desired, that is to say, the chocolate mass would, simultaneously with the mixing thereof, be relieved of said substances through the influence of the air. However, this method has proved to be very tedious and troublesome. Endeavours have been made previously to accelerate the procedure by blowing air through the mass. This procedure, however, also would not yield entirely satisfactory results.

The present invention refers to means, by means of which said substances may be removed rapidly and effectively from the cocoa mass, that,

is to say, the treatment takes place prior to the admixture of sugar and milk. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a cylindrical receptacle which is closed at the ends thereof, and in which is rotatably mounted a shaft carrying a number of arms extending at right angles thereto, said arms carrying, in turn, stirring arms paralleling the shaft, which latter arms are adapted to cooperate with rigid arms secured in the head plates of the receptacle, the upper portion of the receptacle having one or moresuction openings provided therein, which, openings are preferably arranged in some of the rigidly secured arms, for instance in those adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle. The receptacle may be provided with a suction opening for the cocoa mass, so that when the same is placed under vacuum, the mass will be sucked through a pipe, conduits being then provided with suitably arranged cocks. To facilitate the tapping of the mass from the receptacle, the latter may also be arranged to be placed under a pressure above atmospheric, so that the mass may be pressed over into a store container for the treated mass.

A form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 show the receptacle proper viewed from the end and in a longitudinal section respectively.

I designates the cylindrical casing of th receptacle and 2 an external casing extending from the bottom and upwardly half-way the height of the receptacle. In the useof the apparatus steam or hot water intended for the heating of the cocoa mass is introduced into the space between the two casings, such steam or hot water being led in and off through sockets 4 and 5 respectively. Screwed into the head walls 6 of the receptacle are a number of arms I, the embodiment shown having three groups of arms comprising four arms each, out of which the two lower arms la are hollow and provided with downwardly located openings 8 for the steam, ammonia gas and air. A shaft ll extending through the receptacle is mounted in bearings 9 on supporting arms ID at the center of the head walls 6, said shaft being provided at its entrance into the receptacle with stufling boxes l3. In the embodiment shown, four arms [4 are secured to the shaft H, said arms carrying stirring arms [5 paralleling the shaft l I. According to the drawing, each arm M has four stirring arms l5 secured thereto, said stirring arms entering the intermediate spaces between the arms 1. One of the outer arms is provided with a scraper l6, which is adapted during operation continuously to scrape off chocolate mass that would'otherwise burn fast to the cylinder wall. The receptacle is provided in known manner with non-return valves combined with meters H for pressures above and below atmospheric, and is also fitted with thermometers I8 to indicate the internal temperature of the receptacle as well as the temperature of the steam or water, there being also provided a door l9 to facilitate access to the interior of the receptacle. In its upper part the receptacle is provided with a socket 20 through which air may be sucked out and pressed in respectively. Provided at the bottom of the receptacle is a socket 2| for the cocoa mass.

7 Obviously, the apparatus may be varied in many respects, without departing from the basic principle of the invention. Thus a number of valves may be replaced by two-way and three valves or non-return valves.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 379,898, filed February 20, 1941, now Patent Number 2,441,861.

What I claim is:

Apparatus for removing the non-desirable organic substances contained in the cocoa berry, comprising a hollow cylindrical receptacle closed at the ends thereof and having head walls, said receptacle having a -shaft rotatably mounted therein carrying a number of arms extending at right angles thereto, stirring arms mounted on the first-mentioned arms paralleling the shaft, and a plurality of arms rigidly secured in the head walls of the receptacle and cooperating suction opening and at least one opening for 2,582,664 p r 3 4 I steam near the bottom or ..-the receptacle, said UNITED STATES PATENTS receptacle being provided with a suction opening Number Name Date for the cocoa mass, so that when the same is 215 139 Lightcap May 6 1379 placed under vacuum, the mass may be sucked 237003 Emery Jan 1831 throughg pipqqgpdll w m afiwe we i er 1 035 842 wAndersoiI 1.; Aug. 20 1912 for the non' tre'ated mass, and the receptacle be- 7'3 Honstem Jam 1913 ing also provided with a. tapping opening, said 1 Roberts a 5' 5' suction and tapping openings joined into a com; 1207573 Gloor n I 7' 15 men opening in which is provided a T-coupling 1653281 Hess '7 1927 fitted Wlth valves- OLOF 10 "2,059,504 'Phlan et a1. Nov. 3. 1936 1" 2,216fl'77 Hollstein Oct. 8, 1940 REFERENCES CITED a I W1amer Apr. 1, 1941 The following references are of record in the FOREIGN PATENTS m of t t t; -.A :1 Number: l n .,C ountry Date y, g 103,494; Sweden Nov. 13, 1941 5 297,054 Great Britain June 6, 1929 662,531 France Jan. 6, 1928 

